Wyoming mule deer hunt w/ pics

[knobby]

A couple months ago, Schlaggerman posted that he and I had drawn deer tags for Wyoming. This would be my third time to hunt in the Bighorns, and the sixth such adventure for Dale. Having a bit of previous working knowledge of the area made a difference for us, as the number of animals seen was down considerably from other seasons.
 
 
The area is somewhat an open mix of trees and sage, with small rock outcroppings thrown in for asthetic appeal. Seeing deer feeding out in the sage is what gives a hunter hope. You always THINK you have a chance at them, but this openness also works against you. Still, the possibility for success does exist. Or as the late Jay Massey wrote many years ago, "when you're hunting with the bow and arrow, a possibility is all you need. With the bow, the probability of failure is so ever-present that you become obsessed with that faint hope of success...that small possibility."

[knobby]

The first task on the agenda was setting up camp. We were fortunate to find our preferred campsite still available, so a couple hours later, our home for the next week and a half was completed.
 
 

[knobby]

This is the Schlaggerman getting his bow and arrows ready for the hunt. The vestibule is a nice addition to his tent, providing lots of additional storage for gear, though it also was an invitation for a camp-raiding mouse to pilage Dale's supplies.
 

[steadman]

[knobby]

We used the remaining day and a half glassing the sage flats and checking out the known travel chutes through the rock ledges.
 
 
 

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Looking good so far.

You guys are from a good state too.

[Greg Szalewski]

Looking good Gary. I have been waiting for this update. I am glad you made Dale put a respectable hat on for the close up of him.

[Over&Under]

Originally posted by Cyclic-Rivers:
Looking good so far.

Yup...looking real good!

[knobby]

This is my new Crow Creek Black Feather making its maiden voyage on this trip. On a previous post back in April, I showed it off with an explanation of the upgrade our kids surprised me with from what I had originally ordered. A gift like that just HAS TO make a bow special.
 

[Gen273]

   

[Keith Zimmerman]

This is gonna be a good thread...

[knobby]

Here's the Schlaggster taking aim during a practice session. At first glance, he appears to be shooting at his ATV, but in reality the intended target is the "Milhouse the mulie" cardboard silhouette in the background. For those of you that have never seen him shoot, Dale is an exceptional shot at both targets and animals. Shooting with him is both enjoyable and humbling at the same time.
 

[knobby]

Actually Greg, any close up of Dale SHOULD include a hat!

[knobby]

A couple more broad views of the area. Being the first week of September, everything looked green and lush from the exceptionally heavy winter snowfalls.  But looking closely, Fall was just starting to breathe a hint of color onto the landscape.

 

 

 

[joe ashton]

wow!  thanks for sharing.....

[knobby]

Opening day arrived cloaked in fog,a shroud that eliminated glassing for deer completely. It did, however, make for silent sneaking through the woods, an unproductive yet enjoyable way to spend that afternoon. By nine o'clock that night, a star-filled sky appeared overhead and the temperature plummeted to below freezing. We broke out the wool clothes the next morning and enjoyed the reprieve from the past few months of summer's heat. It felt awesome!
 That evening, opportunity knocked for the Schlaggerman when this beautiful buck turned broadhead at 18 yards. The heart-shot mulie made a short dash downhill before crashing, leaving an ample bloodtrail for Dale to follow. With that, his hunt came to an unexpectedly early end.

 

[knobby]

With his tag filled, Dale was able to capture this impressive photo while glassing for deer. The soft evening light really makes the landscape glow.
 

[Hot Hap]

Congradulations-Hap

[knobby]

While the Schlaggerman was off glassing, scouting and playing photographer, I was being taunted by a hard-horned 3x3 and a velvet-covered 4x4 that I caught traveling downslope after an evening of feeding. By the time they'd made their get-away a half-hour later, I was a wreck. It was one of those cases where they were teasingly close,yet not close enough, for a prolonged period of time. The encounter had me so pumped up with "jet fuel quality" adrenaline that it's just as well I didn't get a shot opportunity. I was shaking so badly that I almost crossed the line from having a bad case of the frog-leg, to near convulsions.For whatever reason, my extremities were totally out of control and there was nothing I could do about it! If anyone else had witnessed it, it would have been embarrassing, but in a hilarious kind-of-way.

[karrow]

great thread even better pics